Charles Leclerc shone during the second day of pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, clocking in a top time of 1m 34.273s. This impressive feat put him ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Haas’ Ollie Bearman, who followed closely behind.
In the warmer morning sun, Leclerc set a pace that remained unbeatable throughout the afternoon. He finished more than half a second ahead of reigning World Champion Norris and a full second clear of Bearman. All three drivers completed over 100 laps, despite a brief stoppage for Norris in the morning.
Mercedes had a mixed day. They shared driving duties between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Antonelli faced delays due to a power unit problem but Russell later secured fourth place overall.
Red Bull’s new driver, Isack Hadjar, also dealt with technical issues at first but rallied to finish in the top five. Audi, gearing up for their first F1 season, saw Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg finish sixth and tenth, respectively, surrounded by other competitors like Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas.
The day featured other highlights too. Sergio Perez had a rough start, encountering problems with his Cadillac. Antonelli placed last, managing only three laps due to his car’s issues.
As the session ended, teams processed data amid various track signals like yellow flags and Virtual Safety Car alerts. Everyone will regroup in the paddock tonight to analyze the day’s performance before the final test day tomorrow.
Interestingly, this year’s pre-season testing marks a significant shift in strategy for many teams. According to a recent survey by Formula 1 Insights, nearly 70% of teams are focusing more on data analysis than ever before. This heightened emphasis comes in response to new regulations aimed at enhancing race competitiveness. As teams prepare for a thrilling season ahead, it’s clear that the landscape of Formula 1 continues to evolve rapidly.
For ongoing updates and insights, you can explore more at the official Formula 1 website.
